Mail box



March 16, 1948. G ERNST 2,438,043

MAIL BOX Filed July 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l g Attorneysarch 16 1948. 5. ERNST 2,438,043

MAIL BOX Filed July 8, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 6'0TTL/E5 ERA/57' Patented Mar. 16, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT ,Fl CE 2,438,043 MAIL Box Gottlieb Ernst, Cordell, Okla.

Application July 8, 1946, Serial No. 681,878

2 Claims. 1

My invention consists of novel and useful improvements in a mail box and more especially pertains to a construction of rural mail receptacle designed to enhance its usefulness.

The primary objects of my invention are to devise a mail box which facilitates the work of the postman in depositing mail therein without leaving the delivery truck; which is mounted in a manner to be normally positioned out of the way when access thereto is not necessary; and which has improved mounting means for moving the box into convenient positions for use and automatically returns the same to inoperative position when released.

Other ancillary objects reside in providing an article of the character set forth above which shall be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to construct and operate and reliable and efficient in performance.

These, together with various subordinate objects, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are realized by my invention, one embodiment of which has been illustrated by Way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of the invention, illustrating alternative positions of the box;

Figure 2 is an elevational view, taken substantially upon the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational view substantially upon the line 3-3 of Fi ure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical, central sectional view through the invention as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view being taken substantially upon the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a detail view, taken in vertical section substantially upon the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

In the annexed drawings, I0 designates a tubular support having a top cap or closure l2 and a cruciform shaped flanged extremity l4 at its lower end, secured as by fasteners l6 to a bed plate l8. The latter constitutes a base for carrying the support l0 and will preferably be suitably embedded or anchored at a suitable location, in the earth.

Intermediate the extremities of the support, a hinge 20 is attached, and supports one end of a beam 22 which carries as by fasteners 24, a mail box 26 of any desired construction, at its opposite terminus. The said box is provided with a clo sure 28, pivoted at 30 and is equipped with the customary signal flag 32, pivoted at 34 and engageable with a frictional catch 36. An angularly disposed bracket 38 is secured to the box adjacent the hinge 3D and has an arm 40 extending outwardly of the box in proper position to constitute a stop or support for the closure in its open position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and also functions as a handle for pivoting and lowering the beam 22 and box 26 into operative positions.

As shown best in Figure 4, the support It has affixed at any suitable location, a, bracket 42, fastened at 44 and having its ends angularly and oppositely disposed at 46 and 48. The end 48 is positioned to engage the beam 22 and constitute a stop or abutment therefor in its raised location, and is apertured at 5!]. A bolt 52 or other suitable means extends from beam 22 for contact with end 48 and secures the end of a cable 54 which extends through an opening 56 positioned just below the bracket 42 in sheltered position, and is entrained over a pulley 48 and depending downwardly in the tubular support is fastened to a counterweight 60, reciprocatingly guided in the support l0.

Attention is now directed to Figure 6, which depicts the pulley 58 as a cylindrical roller 62 extending transversely of the support Ill, journaled on its end 54 and having an intermediate, circumferential cable guiding groove 65. The roller may be inserted or removed by removal of the cap l2 and pin 54, can be constructed of any preferred material and afiords an anti-friction roller and guide for the cable 54.

From the foregoing, the operation and utility of my device will be readily understood. The counterweight 60 will normally retain the box in elevated position, with the member 52 in abutting contact with bracket 42. In this position, the device is compactly arranged and unobtrusive when installed adjacent a country road. Upon engagement of the handle 4|], the box may be readily depressed into the horizontal position, causing it to be extended from the support for easy access by a mail carrier from his position in a delivery truck. When the box is released, it at once returns to its normal, idle position. It should be noted that the return cable is arranged to enter the tubular port by an aperture. shielded against the entry of moisture by its location under the bracket 42.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hollow support, a lever pivoted to said support, a receptacle carried by said lever, a, counterweight reciprocable in said support, a cable connecting said lever and said counterweight, and a stop for said lever carried by said support, said support, said cable being guided by and underly- 10 ing said bracket and an aperture in said support, said aperture being positioned beneath and shielded by said bracket, said cable extending through said aperture.

GO'I'ILIEB ERNST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,337,089 Murray Apr. 13, 1920 1,368,110 Butson Feb. 8, 1921 1,645,768 Morten Oct. 18, 1927 

